Since inception in 2001 the John Taylor has been a scratch race at Mallory Park open to all Formula Junior cars in recognition of John's association with the circuit and his superb record driving Bob Gerrard's Formula Junior Coopers.
In recent years the race has inclusively hosted the Front Engine FJHRA Series.

The magnificent “John Taylor Memorial Trophy for Historic Racing Cars” so generously provided by Jeremy Bouckley, friend and fellow competitor of the late John, is the sole award and this goes to the overall winner of the race.

However, for the Front Engine cars, this is a points scoring round of the eagerly fought FJHRA “JMW” Championship.

This year the rear engine entries were less than of late but as usual Paul Smeeth's Lotus 22 was there ~~ Paul having missed only two years since the inaugural race in 2001, a wonderful record of support. However, the front engined entries were plentiful.

There were a few changes to the Programme entries ~ Pat Barford had problems in the Wednesday Mallory test in his newly restored rear engine De Sanctis so elected to swap to his EFAC and Jan Biekens Stanguellini wasn’t ready after problems at Brands the weekend before.

We welcomed two drivers new to FJ and in fact new to any (or in Graham’s case, recent) racing, both of them having their obtained MSA licence only a few weeks ago. Graham Barron brought his beautifully self restored Gemini Mk2 1037 from Lancashire, this being the first competition appearance for this newly discovered car since about 1967! and Shane Trim, Brian Jolliffe's grandson, had Brian's Cooper T56.

At the last moment Mac Hulbert found that his Elva 100 had a major gearbox oil leak so, in all, nineteen cars ran in the timed practice on a very pleasantly cool morning with even the hint of drizzle in the slightly misty air.
Sam Wilson posted pole time 51.54 with his newly restored ex Dave Charlton Lotus 20. Completed only a few days previously, it ran faultlessly.

Also “ex F1” we were delighted to welcome former Grand Prix driver, Ian Ashley famous for his Period racing against James Hunt, both of them in Alexis Formula Fords, and later in Formula 3, recently competitive with an LDS in HGPCA racing, driving Justin Fleming's Lola Mk2 and he was 2nd with Richard Ellingworth's Gemini Mk2 and then Smeeth completing the two front grid rows.
However, all was not well with Smeeth's Lotus and a misfire increasingly hobbled him. Remedy was not feasible so he withdrew from the race, what a shame.
Ash Waller showed well in his Sadler and qualified 8th between Stephen Barlow's nippy BMC Mk1 and John Arnold's Elva with its drop box now reliable at last.
Barron's Gemini blew a core plug after 8 laps, thankfully not the one at the back of the block so this was easily replaced in plenty of time for the race.

The merest hint of the starter's Union flag was enough for the experienced Ashley and he shot away whilst Wilson made his usual rubbish start, but it was Wilson clear by 4 secs after the first lap and he pulled away into the distance leaving Ellingworth in 2nd having passed Ashley. Crispian Besley had a superb start in his Elva 100 also disposing of Ashley as he moved straight into 3rd place, but Ashley was having none of this and they swapped places several times in the early laps until very irritatingly Besley's transmission cried enough and he retired. Ashley then harried Ellingworth until finally besting him on lap 8 and retained 2nd to the finish with Ellingworth a very close 3rd.
David Brand's BMC Mk1 made short work of Barford, Martin Sheppard's Stanguellini and Arnold at the start to lie 8th on the end of lap 1 and he forged ahead to finish 5th overall, a great drive but he couldn't quite catch Barlow's similar car although both of them got ahead of Mike Fowler's Gemini Mk2.
Meanwhile Barron was again engulfed in steam due to an ill fitting radiator cap and he rumbled into the paddock, but he will be back ~~ Croft is his next plan. However fortune smiled on Trim who finished 15th with a huge grin on his face fractionally behind Richard Pugh's Stanguellini ~~ he's well and truly hooked.
Bernard Brock's now restored Elva GC rose a few places but Michael Waller's Fiat engined Hillwood refused to be budged from last place. Ash Waller maintained family honours with a very good 7th place at the flag ahead of Arnold and Anthony Smith's Elva 100.
Wilson finished his Lotus 20 at a canter some 44 secs in the lead and so won the coveted John Taylor Memorial Trophy for the third time, the previous occasions being in his Cooper T59.

The Front Engine Championship points winner was Ashley, then Ellingworth and Barlow 3rd all class B2, and Class A winner was Sheppard from Barford with Pugh 3rd.

Crispian Besley's early bath meant that he had plenty of time to prepare his customary generously sponsored beer and he even had the bottle opener at the ready as the cars came back into the paddock after a most enjoyable race.

The past winners names engraved on the Trophy are some of the great and good of Formula Junior over the years ~ Michael Hibberd, Simon Diffey, Edwin Jowsey (2), Mark Gillies, Simon Armer, Steve Smith, Sam Wilson (2) and John Milicevic (3) ~~ quite a roll call.

Hopefully the outcome of the discussions concerning the future of the lovely Mallory Park venue will go in favour of continued racing and fingers crossed that we will be back next year for another John Taylor Memorial Trophy race.

Peter Jackson  22nd July 2013.